EFCC storm Uniben: No cause for alarm says VC

Following the presence of men of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) penultimate week at the University of Benin, UNIBEN, Prof. O. G. Oshodin, vice chancellor of the university said there is no cause for alarm.

Prof. Oshodin who reacted through the office of chairman, UNIBEN security committee and assistant dean of student affairs, Barr. Faith Osadolor said the EFCC were presence at the institution on their statutory responsibility.

Barr. Osadolor said, “they were here to investigate following a petition by one Kehinde Dokun Samuel who is no longer in the service of University of Benin. “And as the chairman of security committee longside other principal staff we were present to assist the officials but no one was arrested.

“Categorically, let me put it on record that the present administration under Prof. O.G Oshodin has performed excellently which every eye can attest to and not even the petitioner nor his allegations are all founded on lies and bitterness.“As vice chancellor, the institution has declared zero tolerance to

Corruption and corrupt practices with strict enforcement and I wonder where the petitioner is getting his feverous claims.

“All I will have to tell you is that, there is no trouble in UNIBEN. These are all handiwork of distracters and the routine noise which usually characterized succession into the position”, Barr. Osadolor said.

NOTP gathered that on Thursday 5 and Friday 6 December, 2013 men of the anti-graft commission were present at the university.

While it could not be ascertained if any principal staff was arrested, however the assistant dean of student affairs, University of Benin (UNIBEN) Barr. Faith Osadolor was in a petition accused of embezzling funds meant for the institution.

Kehinde Dokun Samuel, formal deputy director of central records process unit, UNIBEN alleged in a petition signed and dated 23rd September, 2013 addressed to the executive chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) this was made available to Journalists at the weekend in Benin City.

According to the petitioner, the said Barr. Osadolor allegedly defrauded the university under the guise of collecting part payment of school fees from students without remitting same into the university account.

University of Benin

The statement contained that the now embattled Asst. Dean in 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 prior to his appointment as assistant dean of student affairs, was coordinator of the part-time diploma programme in law. Barr. Osadolor is alleged by the petitioner to have used his then position to collect the fees of students which runs into million of naira.

“Upon discovery of the large scale fraud, the dean of law, Prof. Atsegbua wrote to the vice chancellor, Prof. O.G Oshodin to release Barr. Faith Osadolor to the state security department for interrogation.

“The vice chancellor allegedly frustrated the investigation by his failure and refusal to accede to the request. Thus lecturers, students of the faculty of law and the University of Benin were defrauded”, Mr.

Kehinde alleged.

Mr. Kehinde however pleaded with the law enforcement agency to investigate the matter raised saying that as at when he attempted to informed the university authority on the issue, he was maliciously dismissed from the institution.